I'm with you, although if you just bring a 12 pack instead of an actual case, you can make some pretty impressive time...

You shouldn't sandbag routes like that. If its a 24 beer hike, it's a 24 beer hike. Before you know it, you're gonna have people showing up who've only done 12-14 beer hikes before expecting to be able to top out. They might make it to the top, they might not, but what's the point if they're sober.